Damascus’ Paths

As Leya Fernandes Reis said, the interviewed in this issue, her approach of Spiritism was mediated by pain and two friends. Not finding answers in her religious belief - Catholicism - about the death of her brother let herself to be carried away by the kindness and discretion of both Spirit friends who advised her.

We all receive a call, whether we are either spirit or laity. One day we find ourselves in spiritual arms that lead us to our Damascus’ Path.

These our friends who love us deeply, lead us gradually from bitter pain or refreshed spirit, to the knowledge of the will of Jesus on our behalf and wakes us up from a deep indifference sleep, or perversity, or worship of material things. Then they take advantage of an opportune moment of reflection. It may be boredom or it may be the need of comfort, hope or regret.
 

In the presence of Jesus, Paul – still being Saul - felt a stinging pain. Repentance was playing his hardened heart, making it through the source of tears and without any obstacle between the new life and the old man. Paul simply said: "Lord, what do you want me to do?" Great humble attitude, sticking out from a stone heart which was beginning to soften to the touch of suffering.
 

In these simple ones events, there is Divine Providence making Paul blind, preparing him to return to see and see a new path in search of the new man.
 

There is suffering the driver of humility. A gesture of humility is enough to connect with our protectors. Hence then our ideas are renewed, we acquire strength and courage to fight the good fight against our imperfections. The more we struggle, the more humble we become. Then we understand that we fight with only one enemy, that it does not come from outside. Our struggle is not against enemies; our struggle is against ourselves.
 

Therefore it is necessary to know yourself. The truth sets us free. What truth? The truth about ourselves. If we like Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, analyzing our actions, words and prejudices, we will have means of knowing ourselves gradually.
 

Many attitudes that go unnoticed when we do not reflect on them, it can be selfish, pride, vanity result. Knowing what our objectives, our ends and our means are, we have elements to combat the vices that still disturb us and corrode.
 

If there was support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, in which we could share experiences, analyze together our actions, desires and goals, seeking in the experiences shared means to correct behaviors from dialogue, much it would gain for knowledge of ourselves.
 

Augustine's call was through a song where a boy sang "Take and read, take and read", a melody that had never heard before, and sought in vain the songs of children which had heard at school. He understood that should open at random the book at his hand, book of Paul's letters, where he read: "Behave ourselves honestly, as in the day, not living in orgies and drunkenness, in concubinage and debauchery, in fights and jealousy. Rather, clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and do not worry to satisfy the appetites of the flesh." (Romans 13: 13-14.).
 

It was the answer he needed to drop the worldly ways and follow Jesus.
 

We are called at all times. This call is the voice of our conscience, in agreement with the voice of our protectors.
 

If we stay vigilant, paying attention to the ideas that form in our minds, being good, then we can trust that following them, we will be hearing the Lord: "Stand up! Enter the city and there it will be told what you should do."